“When will the new hippo and penguin exhibit open?” has been a common question we’ve received both in-person and online for the past several months. Our President & CEO, Bob Chastain, is here to give you a few updates on why we can’t pinpoint an exact opening date for you just yet, and what has to happen before we can.

Some people are surprised to learn that seventeen chickens live in Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s My Big Backyard, where guests can also meet rabbits, koi fish, amphibians, insects, our honeybee colony, tarantulas, and more. The chickens are each named after famous chefs or tasty spices and all have unique personalities to match.

It’s not unusual to hear cooing chickens and guests giggling with delight, as they get the opportunity to meet these unique species of chicken up close and personal. Guests can interact with them during their daily “Chicken Parades,” when they run down the road from their chicken coop to their pen in My Big Backyard. Guests who would like to get even closer have the chance to do so for $1 during the chicken feeding experience. These interactions are available all day every day, when the weather is warm enough for these hearty chickens to be outside.

When they’re not on parade or connecting with guests, the chickens are training with their keepers. Here are a few fan favorites, and their current training efforts, to look for next time you visit My Big Backyard:

Rosemary is the flock’s only White Crested Black Polish chicken. Her fabulous frock of white feathers on the top of her head makes her easy to recognize. She may not be able to see very well because of the sheer volume of her feathery headdress, but she has phenomenal hearing and recognizes her lead trainer’s voice out of any crowd. Rosemary is trained to peck at a target, to jump onto hands and to turn around in a circle. People love Rosemary because of her funny head of feathers and her calm and outgoing demeanor. Rosemary is often one of the first chickens to attend off grounds ZOOMobile programs, as she doesn’t mind new surroundings as long as there is good food.

Martha Stewart is the CMZoo flock’s only Lakenvelder chicken. She has black feathers on her neck and tail, but her body feathers are white. Martha is a very eager eater, and you may see her running towards guests with food cups, or stealing tasty bugs from other chickens. Martha is learning how to tell the difference between colors. She is learning station training and target training. Keepers show Martha a blue paddle or a red paddle, and she walks to stand on a circle that is the same color as the paddle her keepers present. Most of the time Martha gets it right, but sometimes she gets really excited about her meal worm treats and forgets about the colors. Martha is also learning to go on ZOOMobile programs.
 
 
 

Guy Fieri is the newest addition to our chicken family. He is an Araucana rooster and lives in a side yard with Laredo, a Rio Grande turkey. Guy is a very “talkative” rooster. If you wait by his yard for a few minutes, you are almost guaranteed to hear him crow. Guy is settling in to the chicken family, approaching keepers and discovering which foods are his favorite. Guy is very mild mannered and spends his days exploring the yard and finding new areas to perch.

All the chickens in My Big Backyard have the option of staying in the yard and interacting with guests, taking a break in the side yard to just relax or maybe lay an egg, or flying out and exploring the Zoo on their own. If you see a chicken outside of the yard or coop, don’t worry. They are just exploring their spaces and looking for bugs to eat. They always come home to roost in their coop at night.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

New Hippo and Penguin Exhibit to Open This Fall – Water’s Edge: Africa Animal Care Manager, Jeremy Dillon, shares the latest from the hippo and penguin exhibit, set to open this fall.

CMZoo animal care manager, Jeremy Dillon, gives Waterhole readers the first look inside the hippo building, a sneak peek at the nature trail, and updates on the penguin exhibit. Water’s Edge: Africa is scheduled to open late summer/early fall 2019.

FIRST-TIME LOOK INSIDE THE NEW HIPPO BUILDING, SET TO OPEN EARLY FALL

HIPPO AND PENGUIN EXHIBITS TO OPEN IN PHASES, STARTING LATE SUMMER

CMZoo animal care manager, Jeremy Dillon, shows off some of the exciting features in Water’s Edge: Africa, the hippo and penguin exhibit set to open in phases starting late summer 2019.

As we prepare for the opening of Water’s Edge: Africa later this summer, we’re excited to introduce the future exhibit’s newest residents, Penelope and Alexander, eight-month-old common warthogs.

Have you ever seen a warthog do “zoomies”? Click below to learn about these two rambunctious siblings who will live alongside our hippos, and perhaps even venture outside to meet our guests face-to-snout!

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s orangutans are having a swingin’-good time, thanks to a newly renovated exhibit. Several new features take them to heights they would frequent in the wild.

The new structures and features, including new platforms, hammocks, tree structures, sway poles and fifty-foot-long ‘vines’ constructed of fire hose, overlook the city of Colorado Springs from above the main Zoo parking lot. Primate World keepers teamed up with the CMZoo horticulture and maintenance crew to bring this dream habitat to life. It’s designed to keep our orangutans stimulated, strong and enriched.

“We knew we wanted an area that would provide them with opportunities to mimic wild orangutans’ natural behaviors in forests,” said Eleanor Knox, Australia native and Primate World senior animal keeper. “It’s really exciting that we’ve been able to create a space with structures that allow them to climb high, jump, swing around and relax.”

Young orangutans, like almost four-year-old Bornean orangutan cutie Ember, have a lot of energy and like to jump, climb and swing, while mature males, like her dad Tujoh, like to spend time resting and relaxing outside. The design that the team put together allows the CMZoo orangutans to enjoy all kinds of activities.

“Our main goal was to get them up off the ground so they can move around like they would in the wild,” said Knox. “In the forests in southeast Asia, most orangutans stay up high in the trees. Our group of new bright green sway poles mimics large bamboo forests. Orangutans will climb up them and move around between them. They’ll even use their two sets of ‘hands’ to climb up high, while holding on to two different poles.”

Orangutans have famously enormous wingspans and superhero-strong arms. An adult orangutan can stand five feet tall and stretch seven feet from fingertip to fingertip. Their impressive reach, upper body strength and long, curved hands and feet make them the ultimate acrobats.

“Another cool feature in the new orangutan yard is the feeder ball,” Knox said. “Orangutans are capable of climbing way up high and hanging down precariously to get their food. Having four ‘hands’ makes it easy to do that.”

The vibrant yellow and green feeder balls are hollow spheres with various-sized holes through which the red apes can retrieve their snacks. One of the feeders hangs from cable at the end of a twelve-foot-high pole with a four-foot curved end.

“It’s another piece of the yard that’s mentally and physically stimulating for them,” Knox said. “That’s the way they’d get their food in the wild. They can climb up high, swing or climb past the curve at the top of the pole and reach down to retrieve the snacks we put inside the ball.”

It’s not all swinging, jumping, trapezing and climbing, though.

“They spend a lot of their time lazing around. Especially our big males,” Knox said. “They’re not super active by nature. You wouldn’t think it watching our ‘wild child,’ Ember, but orangutans have one of the slowest metabolisms next to sloths.”

Along with the fun spaces intended for high-energy activities, the team incorporated several composite decking platforms, hammocks and relaxation spaces to accommodate the orangutans’ much-needed down time.

“We found a big sphere and cut it in half, then attached some fire hose to make a dome swing,” Knox said. “Our big Bornean orangutan male, Tujoh, loves it. He lounged in there for a good while the other day. Hadiah [Ember’s mom] has had a go in it, too, and they just kind of relax and hang out.”

Sumatran orangutan Sumagu also seems to enjoy the new exhibit. Keepers say she and her baby Kera enjoyed one particularly sunny platform so much, they were starting to think Sumagu had decided to move in permanently.

Before turning it over to the orangutans, Primate World keepers tested the area.

“We had a bit of a practice and tested out the new yard activities ourselves,” Knox said. “All of the bolts and connectors have to be super locked down because they’re so smart that they’ll undo whatever they can. We have to make sure it’s all tight. We had good fun out there.”

The new habitat means orangutans will get to participate in new behaviors and demonstrations, which the orangutans have already started learning.

“They’re starting to learn a bunch of new behaviors that we’ll be able to share with guests during demonstrations when the weather warms up,” Knox said. “We’ll be highlighting all of their natural behaviors, like climbing and doing big ‘Tarzan swings’ to show what they’d do in the wild. They can go up on the high platforms, grab onto a piece of hanging fire hose ‘vine’ and off they go.”

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo orangutan enrichment trainings and demonstrations take place every day at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Knox says on warm winter days, they’ll be practicing their new moves for everyone to see.

Colorado Springs, CO – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is excited to announce the next step toward building a brand-new exhibit for hippos, penguins and other species: the demolition of our 58-year-old Aquatics building. The building was constructed in 1959, the same year Alaska and Hawaii were proclaimed as states.

The new exhibit is being funded through our $10.4 million Making Waves capital campaign. A demolition ceremony to commemorate the occasion will take place at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 23. Media and the public are invited to attend.

Longtime Zoo construction partner GE Johnson will manage both the demolition and the construction of the new exhibit. They will be on-hand for the ceremony with demolition machinery that will begin the initial stages of taking down the existing building. We will demolish portions of the back side of the building during the ceremony.

“It is an honor to return to the Zoo to work on this one-of-a-kind project that will provide a new, sustainable home for the hippos and penguins to enjoy,” said GE Johnson CEO Jim Johnson.

Preparations for this much-anticipated demolition have been underway for more than a year. In August 2016, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo sent our two Nile hippos, Zambezi and Kasai, on “vacation” to Dickerson Park Zoo in Missouri. Other species that previously lived in the building moved to different parts of our Zoo, or they found new homes at other accredited zoos around the country. We are excited to complete this next step, which will get us closer to bringing our hippo girls home and providing a beautiful, conservation-themed exhibit for our community and visitors to enjoy.

Additionally, every effort is being made to save and relocate the hippo tile mosaic on the side of the Aquatics building. This mosaic is original to the building and is a beloved art piece that our Zoo construction team is working hard to save and then display in the upcoming exhibit.

In order to make the new exhibit possible, key community partners and donors have been contributing to the $10.4 million Making Waves capital campaign. There is still $237,000 that needs to be raised to reach our goal, and we are looking for additional community support for the remaining funds.

Zoo President and CEO Bob Chastain is excited for the demolition, as it symbolizes progress – which is a quality that he wants Cheyenne Mountain Zoo to be known for.

“We try to provide the public with something brand new and exciting every few years, so we are keeping the trend going,” Chastain said. “Constant improvement and progress are part of our recipe for success here at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. This exhibit is going to be expansive, functional and sustainable, and – best of all – we will get to bring our hippos back home.”

Chastain and Johnson will start the ceremony with brief remarks before the initial demolition begins.

Not only will this new space be ideal for hippos, it will also improve upon the Zoo’s carbon footprint and sustainable water use. The new hippo exhibit will have a state-of-the-art filtration system that will reduce our use of water.

The exciting exhibit space will house:

  • Our two Nile hippos, Zambezi and Kasai, as well as room for up to five hippos total. We plan to welcome a male, and we are hopeful for future hippo babies.
  • A new flock of around 18 African penguins. Our hope is that the flock will grow through successful breeding and chick rearing in our improved facility.
  • A lemur island in the middle of the hippos’ indoor/outdoor water exhibit. Guests will learn more about this endangered species and watch them swing, climb and play in a tree-filled area.
  • Gazelles will be featured adjacent to the hippos’ outdoor grazing area.
  • Saddle-billed storks and other bird species will live alongside the gazelles.
  • A suspension bridge will lead to a nature-themed play area for adventurous guests.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s ONLY mountain zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s hope that guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Of the 230 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just nine operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues and donations for funding.

Here is a Dropbox link featuring photos and construction renderings: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/e8k2i7fdpgp498s/AADP6jfkhjTJHoB38I0Bwrv9a?dl=0

— Upcoming exhibit will feature African penguins, hippos, and more, but we need your help! —

Colorado Springs, CO – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is asking for the public’s help to “fund the flock” and help complete our Making Waves capital campaign to build a dynamic new exhibit for endangered African penguins, hippos and much more. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and one of very few accredited zoos in the country that receives no tax support, the support of the Colorado Springs community is vital to the Zoo’s continued ability to upgrade our facilities.

The $10.4 million campaign is currently over 95 percent funded, but we still need the community’s help to “flock to the finish” of this incredible effort. Our Colorado Springs community regularly rallies behind the Zoo, and we need their help now more than ever so we can bring home our hippo girls, Zambezi and Kasai, who are currently vacationing at Dickerson Park Zoo in Missouri. We’re asking for the community’s help in raising the remaining $480,000 and make a hippo-sized splash for these amazing animals.

The new exhibits will take the place of and expand upon our nearly 60-year-old, soon-to-be demolished Aquatics building. Not only will this dynamic new space be hip for hippos, it will also improve upon the Zoo’s carbon footprint and sustainable water use. In the old exhibits, we were using 60,000 gallons of water per day to maintain healthy environments for the animals residing in the Aquatics building. We know we can do better, so our new hippo exhibit will have a state-of-the-art filtration system that will drastically reduce our use of water.

The exciting exhibit space will house:

  • Our two Nile hippos, Zambezi and Kasai, as well as room for up to five hippos total – we plan to welcome a male and are hopeful for future hippo babies.
  • A new flock of around 18 African penguins. Our hope is that the flock will grow through successful breeding and chick rearing in our improved facility.
  • A lemur island in the middle of the hippos’ indoor/outdoor water exhibit. Guests will learn more about this endangered species and watch them swing, climb and play in a tree-filled area.
  • Gazelles will be featured adjacent to the hippos’ outdoor grazing area.
  • Saddle-billed storks and other bird species will live alongside the gazelles.
  • A suspension bridge will lead to a nature-themed play area for adventurous guests.

“This exhibit is absolutely going to be one-of-a-kind,” said Zoo President & CEO Bob Chastain. “Not only will guests be able to see our hippos from a whole new perspective, they’ll also get the opportunity to share the same space with African penguins and come away caring even more for this endangered species. Add to that the other featured species and nature play area, and this dynamic exhibit truly has it all.”

In addition to the new animal homes being funded through the Making Waves capital campaign, a new home for our EdVenture programs and new ADA guest restrooms will also be built using funds from the campaign. The new complex will house ADA-accessible restrooms on the lower level, and the upper level will house space for our growing EdVenture staff and programs. This new complex will also free up a location near the front gate for our Guest Services operations, which will provide an enhanced ability to respond to the needs of our approximately 780,000 attendees per year.

With help from our courageous co-chairs, Ann and Tom Naughton and Carol and John Kleiner, the Zoo has raised $9.9 million from individuals and foundations. Of that amount, $1.5 million was generously donated by El Pomar Foundation, through the Anna Keesling Ackerman Fund and the Freda Hambrick Fund.

“The Trustees have supported Cheyenne Mountain Zoo since 1939. Today, the Zoo attracts well over 750,000 visitors a year and is a national leader in innovative exhibits. The Trustees are proud to continue their support,” said El Pomar Foundation Chairman and CEO William J. Hybl.

Other leadership gifts include contributions from the Harold W. and Mary Louise Shaw Foundation and the Lane Family Foundation.

“We truly can’t thank these donors enough for their major support of this campaign,” said Chastain. “Without these leadership gifts, our new exhibits would not be possible.”

To learn about the Making Waves campaign and how to contribute, please visit: cmzoo.org/makingwaves.

A Dropbox link to Making Waves images and exhibit renderings can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/e8k2i7fdpgp498s/AADP6jfkhjTJHoB38I0Bwrv9a?dl=0

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s ONLY mountain zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s hope that guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Of the 230 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just nine operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues and donations for funding.